Apparatus for measuring blast pressures



Aug. 22, 1950 P. H. wx-:lss 2,519,421

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BLAST PRESSURES Filed July 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

Aug. 22, 1950 Y P. H. wElss APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BLAST PRESSURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1945 Suma/1MM Phil H we Aug. 22, 1950 P. H. wElss APPARATUS Fon uEAsuRING BLAST PREssuREs 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23, 1945 Phil HNA/Biss Allg- 221 1950 P. H. wl-:lss 2,519,421

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BLAST PRESSURES Filed July 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FE' El- A AAAAA Arwen/bo@ Phil H1@ 555 Patented Aug. 2z, i950 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BLAST PRESSURES nPhil H. Weiss, Aberdeen, Md.

Application July 23, 1945, Serial No. 606,695

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

@The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to apparatus for measuring and testing the eects of blasts such as those produced by bombs. In testing the eiectiveness of various types of bombs using various kinds of explosives. it is highly desirable to obtain a complete time-pressure curve of the blast of each bomb at selected points within the area of the explosion. AThe factors of 'Particular interest that enable determination of the relative effectiveness of the types of bombs and explosives tested are (l) peak pressure, (2) duration of positive pressure and (3) total impulse 4of the positive pressure phase of the explosion.

Factor (3) is of especial importance since impulse is commonly taken as a criterion of the eiectiveness of a bomb within its area of damage. Any instrument "of the type mentioned, to be acceptable, must therefore measure the impulse with suilicient accuracy to enable cornparison between the different types of explosives tested and various methods of bomb loading. To establish a signiflcant dierence of the order of a standard deviation of the mean, of about 3% is required.

Furthermore, because of the particularly severe ground shock, shock waves, ying bomb fragments and other factors inevitable with the blast accompanying large quantities of high explosives, the instrument used must be relatively free from microphonic noise and cable signal and must be mechanically rugged and weatherproof. Low impedance in the connecting lines is also desirable and the significant records afforded should be capable of simple and direct evaluation and interpretation.

It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide a blast pressure measuring instrument whose blast or pressure-sensitive element is extremely rugged and weather-proof.

Another object is to provide a pressure-responsive instrument having its more sensitive calibrated and comparing components located remote from and protected from the effects of the blasts.

A further object is to provide an instrument giving a permanent record of the blast eiects of each bomb tested whereby the effectiveness of each type of bomb, loading and explosive may be evaluated and compared so that the most desirable bomb for its intended purpose may be selected.

A still further object is to provide anV apparatus for blast pressure measurements 'of the electrical types whose indications depend only upon characteristics of the sensitive element itself and one tuned circuit, so that changes in voltages, line impedances, amplier characteristics, time constants, cable signal; tube microphonics, etc., have no effect upon the results.

Anothenobject is to provide a pressure-determining apparatus wherein the frequency of a tuned circuit is modulated by and in accordance with instantaneous values of pressure to be determined which frequency is in turn used to create a sensum record whereon a sensible frequency may bedetermined bearing a known or determinable relation to said pressure.

A further object is to provide an instrument giving an output voltage directly proportional to the pressure created by a bomb explosion at a point relatively close to said explosion. d

A still further object is to provide an instrument for testing and comparing the relative effectiveness of different types of bombs using dierent types of explosives wherein the more sensitive portions of the instrument may be located at locations remote from the site of the explosion.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for testing the absolute and relative effectiveness of bombs that is relatively simple, rugged, and reliable in operation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the general field set-up and arrangement of the various component parts of the instrument,

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, showing a pressure-sensitive condenser whose capacity is directly responsive to the changes in pressure within the blast area,

Fig. 3 is a section taken upon the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and showing the main condenser parts in axially-separated relation, the clamping ring and screws being omitted for greater clarity,

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the transmitter circuit including the condenser and its electron-coupled oscillator,

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the circuit for the 3 receiver and showing a radio-frequency stage of amplification, a local oscillator and mixer. and an audio-frequency stage of amplification,

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the power supply circuit for the receiver of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit for sharpening the audio-frequency input from Fig. whereby a neon lamp may be caused to flash sharply at the same frequency,

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the power supply for the flashing circuit of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of a discriminator circuit that may be employed to check the response of the gages by coupling the output to an oscillograph.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram of the power supply for .he circuit of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a view showing a section of lm depicting the records of a bomb explosion as made by a number of neon lamps, together with time- Y constant records.

The system in general Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral I ,indicates the general open field location of a bomb to be tested. Transmitters 2, subsequently to be described, are suspended about five feet from the ground, by ropes secured to wooden framework. The transmitters are uniformly positioned as shown, at selected, substantially equal distances from the bomb location and are protected from bomb fragments by sections of one-inch armor plate suspended between each transmitter and the bomb.

Wiring sets 3 extend from each transmitter to a corresponding receiver 5 located in a bombproof shelter indicated generally by the numeral l, and located several hundreds of feet from the bomb location. Each set may consist of two twisted pairs laid in open ditches extending circumferentially about the bomb position. One pair is for filament current from a source indicated generally at 8 and for high voltage currents from a source indicated generally at 9, and may consist of #14 rubber-covered steel wire. The other pair is for radio frequency and ground return, and may consist of 14 rubber-covered copper iflephone wire. Each receiver includes a beat frequency oscillator having an audio-frequency output signal whose frequency is proportional to the instantaneous pressure upon the condenser-microphone.

From the receivers 5, connections 6 lead to flash light circuits 1 in a camera room indicated in general by the dotted lines I0, and output connections II extend from each circuit I to a respective neon flash lamp I2. All lamps are mounted within the optical fleld of a single motion picture camera I3. Each flash circuit incorporates a pulse-sharpening circuit which flashes its lamp at the same audio-frequency.

Thus each transmitter 2 is connected to be frequency modulated by its pressure-sensitive condenser-microphone, so that, during the blast period, the output frequency is proportional to the blast pressure at the location of the transmitter. The radio signal is conveyed to the receiver where heterodyne circuits produce an audio-frequency output also proportional to the instantaneous blast pressure -upon the microphone; After sharpening, the pulses cause the respective lamps to flash and the resulting iilm record appears as a series of dots whose spacing is proportional to the blast pressure. One or more rows of time constant dots are also photographed upon the film as an aid in determining absolute values of instantaneous pressure. Any convenient cycles may be used to create this time record and in one test, 540 and 1000 cycle time marks were employed.

The condenser-microphone pressure gane Figs. 2 and 3 show one form that the pressureresponsive condenser may take, wherein I4 indicates a cylindrical steel block. In an instrument actually built and tested, a block of a diameter of one inch and one-fourth inch in thickness, was found to give very satisfactory results. Block Il fits within the ring I5 of Bakelite or other suitable dielectric having the same thickness as block I4. A pair of dielectric discs I6 and Il, of the same diameter as the outer diameter of ring I5, are superposed over respective opposite sides of the block Il and ring I5, and over these are superposed a pair of circular steel plates I8 and I9. The dimensions and materials used may vary widely in accordance with the desired constants and range of sensitivity of the instrument and the specific conditions of use. Merely as one example of a practical model, therefore, discs I6 and Il may be cut from sheets of polystyrene about .003" in thickness, while plates I8 and i9 may be .05" in thickness with a diameter for the ring, plates and discs of about 21/2".

A series of circumferentially spaced holes are drilled through the ring I5, dises IB and I1, and plates I8 and I9, and bolts 2i are passed through these holes to clamp the unit thus formed firmly together, after which a radial hole 22 is drilled in ring I5 and block Il to substantially the central axis of the block and of a size to snugly accommodate a steel rod 23. A metal clamping band 2i is shaped as shown at Fig. 2 to surround the condenser unit comprising the parts I4 to I9, inc., and is rmly clamped thereabout by tightening a screw 25 passing through apertures in the ears 23 and 21. The lower portion of band 24 is offset as at 28 and has an aperture to accommodate a brass nipple 29 threaded at its top and secured in place by nuts 30 and 3| threaded thereon upon opposite sides of offset 28. A tube 32 of methyl-methacrylate or Lucite fits within nipple 29 and acts to insulate steel rod 23 from said nipple. A male microphone connector 33 snugly surrounds nipple 29. From Fig. 2, it will be observed that rod 23 acts as a connector for block ii and extends below the end of "Lucite rod 32 so that, when the parts are inserted into a standard microphone receptacle, the condenser formed by block I4 on the one hand, and steel plates I8 and I9 on the other are connected into the circuit by connectors in the receptacle making contact with rod 23 and nipple 29, respectively. The lower end of nipple 29 is threaded and a nut 34 lthreaded thereon holds connector 33 in place. 'I'he threaded portion also affords a connection by which the microphone may be rigidly secured in place in its receptacle. After assembly, the gage is dipped in ethyl cellulose stripping compound which forms a tough elastic coating for the exposed parts of the instrument and render it unaffected by rapid changes in temperature and humidity. The plastic coating also presents a good aerodynamic surface to the blast waves.

The transmitter The transmitter tube and its connected electrical elements are mounted within a case formed of steel plates of approximately one-half inch in thickness and are supported in said case upon a base carried by soft rubber mounts. The pressure-sensitive gage itself is screwed into its re ceptacle so as to project from the top ofthe case and is so positioned as to be edge on to the bomb location. As an example of the compact arrangement possible, one model of transmitter found to give excellent results, had a case about 7" x '1 x 5" in exterior dimensions and weighed about 50 pounds.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the transmitter comprises an oscillator tube 38 such as a 6V6 having its grid circuit in series with the plate elements i8, I9 and I4, respectively. of pressure gage 2. A by-pass condenser 39 and tuning inductance 40 are shunted across the terminals of the gage. Inductance 48 is direct connected to the heater cathode by a tapped connection 4I. In the model selected for illustration, the capacitance of 38 and 4ta may be 250 mmf., each, inductance 40 may consist of a total of 80 turns. Biasing resistor 42 may have a value of approximately 20,000 ohms. The plate circuit is inductively coupled to the output through a secondary of 50 turns, the value of inductance 43 being 2.5 mh. A plate supply of 250 volts is connected at 44 and applied directly to the screen and Ato the plate through the primary of 43. Ground connection is made at 45 through a capacitance 46 of .0l mf. Standard filament voltage of 6.3 is used. The output terminals are indicated at 41.

The transmitter frequency is closely approximated by the equation,

1 Fwww where F is the frequency of oscillation, L is the tuning inductance, C is the total tuning capacity. Differentiating the foregoing equation we obtain -F dF--C-dC where dC is the change in capacity of the gage necessary to effect a corresponding change in frequency dF.

The frequency is adjusted by varying the tun- L ing inductance 40. For best operation it has been found that the frequency should be between 500 kc. and 3000 kc. The higher the frequency the greater the sensitivity of the instrument. For stable operation, the tuning capacity should have as high a value as is consistent with adequate sensitivity which decreases as the capacity is increased. By receiving a harmonic of the transmitter frequency the sensitivity can be increased several times but with a consequent loss in stability. The range of change in capacity is, of course, dependent upon the constants of the gage 2. For example a stiiIer diaphragm I8 and i9 results in less sensitivity but a greater linear range. A thinner dielectric I and i1 gives added sensitivity but may result in breakdown in case the discs are made too thin.

The foregoing matters are discussed in order to show that the factors governing the constants of an instrument depend upon the particular quality or qualities desired to be emphasized in that particular instrument, and to show that such constants may be varied widely without in any way changing the basic principles underlying the invention. The specic values selected will usually represent a compromise between sensitivity, stability in operation, and sturdiness of construction. The particular values identified in connection with Fig. 4 thus represent but one of the many combinations of values capable of giving satisfactory results and is wholly free from microphonics over the sensitivity range used.

The operation of the transmitter will now be clear. As the external pressure effective upon the gage changes as a result of the wave resulting from a bomb explosion, the capacity thereof is correspondingly altered. This change in capacity results in a linear change in the frequency of output of the transmitter. The output signals are then conveyed to the receiver located in the bombproof and treated in a manner subsequently to be explained.

The receiver A receiver (Fig. 5) giving satisfactory results in the model selected for description, includes a single stage of R. F. amplification using a pentode 48 such as the 6AC7. In the subsequent description of the receiver circuit, unless otherwise stated, each condenser unit may be taken to havel capacitance of .01 mmf.

The input terminals 49 are connected by wiring 3 to the corresponding output terminals 41 of the transmitter, Fig. 4. One terminal 48 is connected by a line 1| to the cathode of tube 48 through a resistor 50 having a value of 0.15 megohm, and to the suppressor through condenser 5I. The grid circuit includes resistors 52 and 53 having values of 0.15 and 0.1 megohm, respectively. Condenser unit 54 may have a value of .0001 mmf. Screen and plate resistors 55 and 58 having values of 100,000 and 10,000 ohms respectively, are connected to supply tap 55 at 350 v. The screen is grounded through a condenser 55a.

The oscillator and mixer tube 51 is a multielectrode pentode such as the GSA?. Grid #l is connected to one terminal 48 through a set of variable condensers 58 and 58 and a third variable condenser, not shown, that is connected to terminals 50 brought out to the front panel so that the proper value of condenser may be inserted into the last circuit of the oscillator grid. All said condensers, together with inductor 5I of about turns, are connected in parallel in the grid circuit and are in series with a condenser 52 of .00025 mmf. and resistor 53 of 20,000 ohms. The heater cathode of the tube 51 is tapped to inductor 6| in a ratio that may be 5 to 3. Grid #3 is connected to the plate of tube 48 through a condenser 64 of .0001 mmf. and the connection is grounded through a resistor having a value of 0.1 megohm.

The plate of tube 51 is connected by lead 58 with supply tap 65, through a resistor 59 of 50,000 ohms. This lead is grounded at 51 through a condenser 10 and the plate is connected to ground through a condenser 13. Grid #2 and grid #4 of tube 51 are connected to lead 12 between a resistor 13 having a value of 20,000 ohms and a condenser 14 of .2 mmf. Thus the amplified R. F. signals from tube 48 are heterodyned wit the oscillations of tube 51 to produce an A. F. output signal that can be easily adjusted by tuning and that can be monitored with a loud speaker or an oscillograph. For reasons that will subsequently be explained, the beat frequency is adjusted to 1500 or 2000 cycles.

A single stage of A. F. amplification is used and includes a tube 15 such as a 6V6 having its cathode connected to input line 1| through a capacitance 18 of 40 mmf. and a resistor 11 of .3 megohm. The grid of tube 15 is connected to the plate of tube 51, through a condenser 18 and to ground through a resistor 80. 'Ihe plate and screen of tube 15 are connected to lead 88 through resistors 8| and 02, having values of 5,000 and 100,000 ohms, respectively. The screen is also grounded through a condenser 03 of .5 mmf. The output terminals are indicated at 04 and are shunted by a condenser 05. One terminal is directly connected to line 1I while the other is connected with the plate of tube 15 through a condenser 00 of 1 mmf.

At Fig. 6 I have shown a current supply circuit suitable for use with the receiver shown in Pig. 5. A full wave rectifier 01 has its anodes connected to the end taps of the secondary of a transformer 00. The primary 00 is adapted to be connected through switch 9|, with a standard 115 v. source of A. C. The single section, condenser input lter with center tap connection, is well known in the art and need not be described in detail. It is deemed suiilcient merely to identity condensers 02 and 03, inductance 04 and bleeder 55. One output terminal 00 is grounded and the other, 91, is connected to terminal Il to give a positive potential at said terminal of 350 v. The transformer has additional secondary windings such as 90 and 95 for supplying filament voltages.

The flashing circuit The circuit for peaking the A. F. signals from the receiver, to flash the neon lamp, is shown at Fig. '1, and includes input terminals |00 which. it will be understood, are connected with receiver output terminals 04. Three triple grid tubes |0|, |02 and |03, such as the 6SJ7, are used with suppressor operating as class A1 amplifiers direct connected to cathode at the socket. The screen or grid #2 of each of tubes |0|, |02 and |03 is supplied with voltage at 120 v.

Grid #i of tube |0| is connected to ground through a resistor having a value of 1 megohm. Its plate circuit includes a terminal |01 supplied at 400 v. and connected to the plate through a resistor |00 of 0.1 megohm. The plate circuit is completed to ground through a tank |00 having values of 2,000 ohms and 10 mf.

The grid of tube |02 is connected to the plate of tube 0| and resistor of 4 mg. The connection is grounded at a point between |i0 and through a resistor ||2 of 4 megohms. The plate circuit includes a terminal ||3 supplied at 30 v. through a resistor of 50,000 ohms, the cathode being directly connected to ground.

The plate of tube |02 is connected with the grid of tube |03 through a condenser ||4 having a capacity of .00005 mf. and the grid is grounded through a resistor I5 of 50,000 ohms. The plate circuit includes a terminal ||0 connected to the 400 v. tap of the current supply and to the plate itself through a resistor ||1 of 25,000 ohms. The cathode is grounded through units l0 and ||l of 0.5 megohm and .001 mi. respectively. A iinal stage of amplification is employed. using a beam power tube |20 such as the 6V6 having its grid connected to the plate of tube |03 through a condenser |24 of .001 mf. capacity and to the ground through a resistor |25 of 0.1 megohm. Screen terminal |23 is supplied at 400 v. The plate circuit includes a terminal |20 at 400 v. and a resistor |21 of 10,000 ohms. As shown, the lamp |20 of 0.1 watt is connected to opposite terminals of resistor |21. The pulses supplied are of a few microseconds duration and cause the lamp to iiash sharply at the input frequency over a range of 500 to 20,000 cycles.

Each light is mounted behind a. mask having a narrow slit to give a sharply deiined point of light upon the film. The iilm moves continuously and one or more time records are simultaneously 8 recorded thereon as by flashing a corresponding number of lamps from a source ot known irequency. such as a 1000 cycle standard.

The current supply for the iiashing circuits is shown at Fig. 8 and may include a condenser input filter using a full-wave high-vacuum rectiiier |20, such as the 5Y3G having its enodes connected to the ends of the secondary |30 of transformer |3| and having a grounded center tap. The primary |32 is connected through switch |33 with a standard 110 volt source of A. C. The supply taps are connected through a switch |34 provided so that the lamps may be switched on except for the relatively short period during which records are being made, to thereby extend the life of the lamps. A choke |35 is used between the cathode and ilrst tap |30. The several taps |35, |31, |38, and |39 are designed to supply voltages of 400, 120, 100, and 30, respectively. Thus tap |30 may be connected to terminals |01, H6, |26, and |23, Fig. 'l and tap |31 may be connected to terminals |05, |2| and |22. Tap |30 is connected to supply terminal |40 and tap |39 supplies current to terminal H3. Filament current is supplied at standard 6.3 voltage by a secondary |4| having a grounded center tap.

Operation In operation, the tuning condensers in each transmitter are adjusted so that the frequencies of the transmitters vvary in steps of more than 10 kc. The purpose of this adjustment is to prevent interference between signals. Satisfactory transmission of the signals over lines 2000 feet long is thus obtainable when desired. The output frequency of each receiver is monitored by means of a cathode-ray oscillograph and a calibrated audio-frequency oscillator. Each local oscillator is adjusted to an optimum frequency of about 1500 cycles above the corresponding transmitter frequency to give a desired optimum beat frequency. This optimum frequency is governed only by the limitations that the flashing lights do not operate satisfactorily below 500 cycles while the nlm record is dilcult to read at frequencies above 10,000 cycles.

The transmitter and receiver circuits are closed about one hour before a test, in order to allow the R. F. oscillators to come to equilibrium Last minute frequency adjustments are made immediately before the bomb is exploded and the flashing lights are turned on at switch |34 and the camera started, just prior to the explosion.

The resulting record is shown at Fig. l1 where the four upper rows of dots |43 on nlm |44, represent the flashes of the lights controlled by the respective transmitters, while the two lower rows of dots |45 and |46 are those made by lamps flashing at known frequencies such as 350 and 1000 cycles, respectively. Thus the number of dots in any of the four upper rows per unit time as determined by one or both of the lower rows of dots, is proportional to the vpressure effective upon the transmitter due to the bomb blast.

Calibration In order to interpret the number of dots corresponding to unit time as recorded upon the film, it is necessary to provide a calibration chart for the instrument. This is done by placing each gauge within a tank and subjecting the same to known pressures measured by a mercury manometer while simultaneously measuring the corresponding frequency at the receiver by means of a calibrated audio oscillator and au oscillograph.

The number of pressure levels used in calibration is arbitrarily selected and, of course, should cover the entire range of pressures encountered in actual bomb tests. Four, substantially equallyspaced pressures over the necessary range, is usually sufiicient. Assume that where l is the frequency of the neon lamp as depicted upon the film record; fo is the normal or standard atmospheric pressure frequency of the neon lamp; P is the gage pressure; and k is a sensitivity factor. Then, integrating,

where T is any elapsed time, usually taken as the time of the positive-pressure phase of the explosion. In Equation 2, the numerical value of the left-hand side is the tota; number of ashes that have occurred up to time T. This number is taken directly from the lm; foT is the total number of flashes that would have occurred in the same time in the absence of a bomb explosion and is determined by measuring fo and T on the film. Since only the product foT is required, the values of fo and T can be measured in arbitrary units. The nal term of Equation 2 is the desired impulse up to time T, which may l now be determined when k is known. No calibration is necessary in order to determine relative impulse values set up by various bombs tested. It is within the purview of my invention to count the ashes electronically so as to give the pressures directly, without photographing.. light flashes and without reading llrn.

Table 1 shows a sample calibration wherein ju is the standard A. F. frequency before pressure is applied; f, is the frequency corresponding to gage pressures giving the readings p1 and p2 in the two manometer columns. The value of k" can now be computed by (f-f0)/(p1pz).

Table 1 fu f P1 Pt LND 5,9m) 36.0 19. 15 l, m 4, 700 34. 0 2l. l 1,0m 3, 650 32. 2 22. 95 1, m0 2, 550 30.3 24. 9 Lm lllxl W. 7 27. G

Table 2 gives the results of tests on a number of general purpose bombs of 2000 lbs. each, at 205 feet.

circuit of a tube such as the pentode 6AC7. 7.

Said circuit includes aV condenser through a tank '|55 having values of 150`and`.01

plate through a. resistor |51 of 10,000 ohms while the grid is connected withterminal "|56 through aresistor |58 connectedlto'ground through con-L densers |59 and |60 of .01 mi'. each."

The plate of tube |5| is connected to grid #3 ohms. The circuit to grid #l includes terminals |61 adapted to `be Vconnected witha tuning condenser, notshown, a Vcondenser |68 andan ind'uctor |69 of about 80`tur'ns.j" These elements are connected in parallel to ground, as shown, and their remaining terminalisconnected tothe grid through a tank` |12 having values of20,000 ohms and 250 mf.

The plate of tube ,lliscorinected to one terminal of the primary` |10 of aA transformer `Whose secondary is indicated vat |1|. trans'ormcr forms apart of a VFoster-Seeley discriminator stage and consists of three separate honeycomb coils thicken 1/2" coil forms, using 300'ti'n'ns` of #28 wire for each coil. The three .coilsV are mounted side by side upon thesarne shaft with coil |10 in the center and the twofoutside coils" connected in series to lform .thel center-tapped secondary. 'This center` tapisbonnected to the plate of tube |62 through a condenser '|13 of .002

mf. and to ground through Va resistor |14 Vci 15,000 ohms.

Table 2 Standard Average lm- Explosive Observations pulse (Milsec. lr'ggn s. i.) 00 p Percent TNT l0 33.1 2.2' It Amotnl 8 28. 9 3.1 'lliDX Comp B or x. ning? u 39. 9 1. 2 05 DBX l0 4l. 8 1.5 Ednatol il) 34. 3 0. 9 German (1000 kg). 6 33.1 2. 0

.The discriminator A twin diode |15 such as rthe 6116,' hasits crnodes directly connected to the endslof secondary |1I. k:Both primary |10 and "secondary |1|, are

shunted by resistors |16 and |11 such as will give a band width of 15 kc. The plates of diode |15, are connected to the grids of a pair of ampliiler tubes |18 and |19 connected in push-pull relation. These tubes may be of the standard 6V6 type connected in a network as shown where condensers and 8| have a value of .001 mf. each, and resistors |82 and |83, 0.1 megohm each. The cathodes are grounded through a resistor |84 of 2,000 ohms. Plate voltages of 300 are supplied at terminals |85 and |86 which terminals are connected to the plates of the respective tubes |18 and |19 through resistors |81 and |86 of 20,000 ohms each. The screens of the tubes are supplied through resistor |89 having a value of 0.1 megohm. Terminal |65 is directly connected with one terminal of primary coil |10. The plates are connected through resistors |90 and |9| to output terminals |92 and |93. These resistors may be 50,000 ohms each. The output terminals are connected through a condenser |94 of .0003 mf.

Fig. 10 shows a voltage supply for the discriminator circuit and includes a transformer |95 having its primary |96 connected to a, standard -volt source of A. C. Transformer |95 has a secondary |91 having its terminals connected to the respective plates of a full-wave rectier tube such as the RCA 80. Inasmuch as such supply circuits are well known, it is deemed unnecessary lszuf .0001l mf. capacity and shunt-connected resistors |59 and |54 of 0.15 and 0.1y megohm,`respectively." Thecathode of o tube |5| is Adirectly connected` to the suppressor and to the otherinputv terminal' A terminal |56 at +350 v'. is connected to the' to describe the remaining elements in'detail. It is considered sumcient merely to identify smoother |99, condensers 200 and 20| and the output network comprising resistor 202 of 40,000 ohms, 350 volt terminal 203, resistor 204 of 750, and voltage regulators 205 and 206 giving a voltage of 300 at terminal 201. Condensers 200, 20|. and 200 may have values of 16 mf. each. Filament current is supplied from secondary coils 209 and 2|0 having the desired turn-ratio to primary |96.

In operation the primary and secondary coils and I'il are both tuned to resonance in the circuit at 100 kc. above the frequency of the signals from the transmitter of Fig. 6. At this time the voltage across output terminals |92 and |93 is zero. VV'By detuning the local oscillator circuit 7 kc. each way the output voltage may be made v to vary over a range of 150 volts each way. The

output voltage bears a substantially straight line relation to the pressure effective upon the condenser at the transmitter over the central twothirds of this range so that output terminals |92 and |93 can be directly connected to the deflection plates of an oscillograph whereby a photographic record of the eects of a bomb blast as measured by the deflections of the cathode ray can be obtained. If desired, auch a. record may be photographed upon the same nlm as the neon lamp record and may then serve as a check upon the pressure values obtained from the exposed flashes of the neon lamps.

In the foregoing description, in order to comply with the requirements of the patent statutes, the arrangement, dimensions, types of tubes, electrical constants and ranges of adjustments of aninstrument as actually built, tested and operated with very satisfactory results, have been explained and identified in detail.' However, nurnerous changes, alterations and substitutions of equivalents will occur or be obvious to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the various dimensions and electrical constants identiiled in connection with the several component elements oi' the invention will vary somewhat in keeping with 4 the desired range oi indications of the instrument being built as well as its intended purpose. Hence the description is to be taken in an illusl2 trative sense only, and not in a limiting Reservation is made oi' all suclivariations, modi- Vilcations, substitutions. and alterations as i'all with said output circuit and having an audio frequency. output, a 'sharpening circuit connected to said audio frequency output to peak the signals thereof, a nash lamp responsive to the output of said sharpening circuit and iiashing inV synchronism therewith, and a moving film camera positioned and adapted to record said i'lashes as a series of dots whose spacing is proportional to the instantaneous pressure on said condenser.

PHIL H. WEISS. Y

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,001,096 Flanders May 14, 1935 2,113,011 White Apr. 5, 1938 2,167,630 Bazzoni et al. Aug.V 1, 1939 2,178,471 De Bruin Oct. 31, 1939 2,225,668 Subkow et al. Dec. 24. 1940 2,291,045 Lancor July 28. 1942 2,340,714 Traver Feb. 1, 1944 2,361,634 Koch Oct. 31, 1944 2,367,866 Humphreys et al. Jan. 23, 1945 2,368,278 Warshaw Jan. 30, 1945 2,414,719 Cloud Jan. 21, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES French publication, Measures": article, Les Applications du Quartz dans l'Industrie." Mar. 1947, p. 73, 

